US4714022A - Warhead with tandem shaped charges - Google Patents

Warhead with tandem shaped charges Download PDF

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Publication number
US4714022A
US4714022A US06/772,463 US77246385A US4714022A US 4714022 A US4714022 A US 4714022A US 77246385 A US77246385 A US 77246385A US 4714022 A US4714022 A US 4714022A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
charge
liner
warhead
warhead according
armor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US06/772,463
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English (en)
Inventor
Alain Chaumeau
Eric Crotet
Alain Kerdraon
Jean-Paul Ragonnet
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Giat Industries SA
Original Assignee
ETAT FRANCAIS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from FR8413633A external-priority patent/FR2569834B1/fr
Application filed by ETAT FRANCAIS filed Critical ETAT FRANCAIS
Assigned to ETAT FRANCAIS AS REPRESENTED BY THE DELEQUE GENERAL POUR L'ARMEMENT reassignment ETAT FRANCAIS AS REPRESENTED BY THE DELEQUE GENERAL POUR L'ARMEMENT ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: CHAUMEAU, ALAIN, CROTET, ERIC P., KERDRAON, ALAIN M., RAGONNET, JEAN-PAUL G.
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US4714022A publication Critical patent/US4714022A/en
Assigned to GIAT INDUSTRIES reassignment GIAT INDUSTRIES ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: ETAT FRANCAIS
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
    • F42B12/00—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material
    • F42B12/02—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect
    • F42B12/04—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect of armour-piercing type
    • F42B12/10—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect of armour-piercing type with shaped or hollow charge
    • F42B12/16—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect of armour-piercing type with shaped or hollow charge in combination with an additional projectile or charge, acting successively on the target
    • F42B12/18—Hollow charges in tandem arrangement
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
    • F42B1/00—Explosive charges characterised by form or shape but not dependent on shape of container
    • F42B1/02—Shaped or hollow charges
    • F42B1/028—Shaped or hollow charges characterised by the form of the liner

Definitions

  • This invention relates to explosive devices, especially those of a military nature, and is more particularly directed to a warhead to be used in shells, rockets, and/or missiles.
  • the improved warhead of this invention is favorably employed with weapons that can be used for attacking tanks or other armored vehicles whose armor may be rolled homogenous armor (RHA), spaced armor, composite armor, or active armor.
  • RHA homogenous armor
  • the above delay is necessary, for one thing, to prevent the second charge from detonating until after the outer or active protection has been destroyed, this delay interval corresponding to the life of the active armor; the delay is also necessary to prevent the jet blast from the first charge explosion from being overtaken by the jet blast from that of the second charge.
  • the optimum delay time ⁇ T varies according to both the nature and the thickness of the plates that comprise the active armor, and depends as well on the projectile's angle of incidence onto the target. Too long a delay time ⁇ T can lead to unfavorable consequences in operation. For example, excessive delay time ⁇ T can require an increase in the optimal or stand-off range of the second explosive charge and a reduction in the speed of the projectile, and can lead to an increase in the interaction between the two charges.
  • the object of this invention is thus to remedy the abovementioned drawbacks by proffering a warhead with tandem-mounted shaped charges which act sequentially so that the forward charge, disposed in the nose of the warhead, generates a core explosion capable of piercing the active armor without initiating the active protection; the second shaped charge, disposed in tandem behind the first charge, can then be detonated after a very brief delay, this delay being long enough to prevent the core explosion generated by the first charge from being overtaken by the jet blast from the second charge; however, this delay can be reduced to a minimum because the defensive action of the active armor is prevented or avoided.
  • the warhead of this invention thus has the improved features wherein the first or forward charge generates an explosive core whose target impact speed is in the range of about 1,000-2,500 meters per second, and the delay time ⁇ T in activation between the first and second charges is in the range of between about 50 and 300 ⁇ sec.
  • the forward charge generates an explosive core whose speed is on the order of 2,000 meters per second, and the delay in activation between the two charges is on the order of about 100 ⁇ sec.
  • the forward charge has a concave conical metal liner whose apex angle is between 140 degrees and 170 degrees, and most favorably equals substantially 150 degrees.
  • the average thickness of the casing or sheath is between about 1 percent and 2 percent, most favorably 1.6 percent, of the caliber (diameter) of the forward charge.
  • the forward charge has a concave rounded metal liner which can be, for example, spherical or ellipsoidal, and whose ratio of height (axial extent) to diameter or caliber is between 0.05 and 0.15, most favorably 0.1, and whose average thickness is between about 1 percent and 2 percent, and most favorably 1.8 percent, of the caliber or diameter of the forward charge.
  • the detonation speed of the explosive used for the forward charge is below about 8,000 meters per second, and can be comprised, for example, of a composite explosive, trinitrotoluene, or baratol; as aforesaid, the delay in activation between the forward charge and the rear charge can be about 100 ⁇ sec.
  • FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-section of one embodiment of the warhead of this invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a portion of a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
  • the warhead of the disclosed embodiment comprises a casing 1 in which are mounted, in tandem, two shaped explosive charges 2 and 3, hereinafter referred to as the forward charge and the rear charge, respectively.
  • the forward charge 2 includes a mass of explosive material 4 in front of which is a concave metal liner 5, and behind which is a priming mechanism 6.
  • a mass of explosive material 4 in front of which is a concave metal liner 5, and behind which is a priming mechanism 6.
  • the latter is not shown in detail, but would be well known to specialists in this field.
  • the liner 5 can be conical, as shown in FIG. 1, or can be spherical or ellipsoidal, or of other rounded shape, as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the liner 5 can take on any geometric shape so long as its geometric characteristics generally satisfy the following conditions:
  • the liner 5 is conical, its apex angle must be between 140 degrees and 170 degrees, and its average thickness must be between about 1 percent and 2 percent of the diameter (calliber) of the charge 2. In the particular case illustrated here, the apex angle is 150 degrees and the thickness equals 1.6 percent of the caliber of the charge.
  • the liner 5 is rounded, as shown in FIG. 2, e.g. spherical or ellipsoidal, its axial height h, i.e. its extent in the axial direction from the dished-in center of the front of the charge 2 to the plane of the rim of the charge 2, should be such that the length-to-diameter ratio is between substantially 0.05 and 0.15, with the thickness considerations the same as those described above for the conical liner 5.
  • the explosive 4 used in the forward charge 2 must be of the low energy type, with a detonation speed of less than about 8,000 meters per second.
  • suitable explosives are trinitrotoluene, baratol, and composite explosives.
  • the geometric characteristics of the liner 5, as well as the nature of the explosive 4 used for the forward charge 2 must be calculated in such a way that the target impact speed of the core explosion, when the forward charge 2 is detonated, is less than 2,500 meters per second. This condition is required to avoid initiation of the explosive that constitutes the active armor of the target.
  • the rear charge 3 is constituted here as a high-performance, high-explosive hollow shaped charge, and includes an acute-angle conical liner 7 and a mass of explosive material 8, which is favorably a high-energy explosive.
  • the warhead 1 also comprises a protective screen 9 whose function is to protect the rear charge 3 when the forward charge 2 detonates.
  • a safety and arming device 10 is disposed to the rear of the rearward charge 3 and transmits the initiation order to the forward charge 2 through a detonating fuse 11 connected to the priming mechanism 6 on the forward charge 2.
  • the fuse 11 can be replaced with an electric line.
  • Target detection can be accomplished by any of various means known to specialists in the field, such as a proximity fuse or a contact fuse.
  • the delay in activation as between the forward charge 2 and the rear charge 3 can be achieved with a coiled length of detonating fuse, by an electrical delay device, or by a pyrotechnical explosive delay component. In this particular embodiment, a delay time of 100 ⁇ sec is used.
  • One particular advantage of this invention is that it makes it possible to pierce active armor with a lightweight warhead. This comes about because the protection 9 between the charges 2 and 3 can be scaled down, given the very short activation delay or initiation delay time ⁇ T needed between the two charges 2 and 3. Moreover, because the target's active armor protection is never initiated, the effectiveness of this type of warhead is not degraded by the characteristics of the active armor, such as the active armor plate projection speeds or the lateral dimensions of the active armor plates.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Aiming, Guidance, Guns With A Light Source, Armor, Camouflage, And Targets (AREA)
US06/772,463 1984-09-05 1985-09-04 Warhead with tandem shaped charges Expired - Lifetime US4714022A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8413633 1984-09-05
FR8413633A FR2569834B1 (fr) 1984-09-05 1984-09-05 Tete militaire a charges formees montees en tandem

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4714022A true US4714022A (en) 1987-12-22

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Family Applications (1)

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US06/772,463 Expired - Lifetime US4714022A (en) 1984-09-05 1985-09-04 Warhead with tandem shaped charges

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US (1) US4714022A (fr)
EP (1) EP0221218B1 (fr)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4854240A (en) * 1986-12-25 1989-08-08 The State Of Israel, Ministry Of Defence, Israel Military Industries Two-stage shaped charge projectile
US5078069A (en) * 1990-03-27 1992-01-07 Hughes Aircraft Company Warhead
US5166469A (en) * 1990-03-29 1992-11-24 Giat Industries Delay fuse for sequentially detonating shaped charges
US5180882A (en) * 1990-04-27 1993-01-19 Thomson-Brandt Armements System of firing control with programmable delays for projectile having at least one warhead
GB2384291A (en) * 1992-12-08 2003-07-23 Royal Ordnance Plc General purpose bomb
US20040060734A1 (en) * 2001-02-06 2004-04-01 Brian Bourne Oil well perforator
US20040211335A1 (en) * 2001-06-12 2004-10-28 Jyrki Helander Ammunition device with two active charges
US20050114954A1 (en) * 2005-01-31 2005-05-26 Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. Hybrid maize 32R38
US6959893B1 (en) * 2003-04-01 2005-11-01 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Light fighter lethality seeker projectile
US20060266247A1 (en) * 2005-05-27 2006-11-30 Gilliam Jason C Multi-purpose single initiated tandem warhead
US20080141891A1 (en) * 2006-03-09 2008-06-19 Saab Ab Method for reducing the amount of ammunition types to be used and an ammunition device
US7493861B1 (en) * 1989-07-24 2009-02-24 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Tandem shaped charge warhead having a confined forward charge and a light-weight blast shield
GB2518337A (en) * 1987-11-28 2015-03-25 Rheinmetall W & M Gmbh Warhead

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2049649B1 (es) * 1992-08-07 1994-12-16 Edb Sa Submunicion antipista

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3217647A (en) * 1962-10-04 1965-11-16 Thomanek Franz Rudolf Explosive charge construction
US3358780A (en) * 1965-05-24 1967-12-19 Dresser Ind Cumulative shaped charges
US3750582A (en) * 1971-09-03 1973-08-07 Us Army Projectile with differential tandem shaped charges
US4004515A (en) * 1971-01-25 1977-01-25 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Sequential jet shaped charge

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3128701A (en) * 1958-07-24 1964-04-14 Western Co Of North America Shaped charge perforating apparatus
US3019731A (en) * 1960-02-19 1962-02-06 Advanced Oil Tools Inc Jet perforator for well casings
DE1901472C1 (de) * 1969-01-14 1978-04-27 Messerschmitt Boelkow Blohm Gefechtskopf zur Bekaempfung gepanzerter Ziele
DE2136789A1 (de) * 1971-07-23 1973-02-01 Messerschmitt Boelkow Blohm Hohlladungs-gefechtskopf
FR2425047A1 (fr) * 1978-05-05 1979-11-30 Saint Louis Inst Charge explosive a revetement pour la perforation des blindages
FR2429990B1 (fr) * 1978-06-27 1985-11-15 Saint Louis Inst Charge explosive plate
FR2552870B1 (fr) * 1980-10-24 1987-02-13 France Etat Armement Perfectionnement aux tetes militaires a charges formees montees en tandem
FR2569834B1 (fr) * 1984-09-05 1987-08-21 France Etat Armement Tete militaire a charges formees montees en tandem

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3217647A (en) * 1962-10-04 1965-11-16 Thomanek Franz Rudolf Explosive charge construction
US3358780A (en) * 1965-05-24 1967-12-19 Dresser Ind Cumulative shaped charges
US4004515A (en) * 1971-01-25 1977-01-25 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Sequential jet shaped charge
US3750582A (en) * 1971-09-03 1973-08-07 Us Army Projectile with differential tandem shaped charges

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4854240A (en) * 1986-12-25 1989-08-08 The State Of Israel, Ministry Of Defence, Israel Military Industries Two-stage shaped charge projectile
GB2518337B (en) * 1987-11-28 2016-03-23 Rheinmetall W & M Gmbh Warhead
GB2518337A (en) * 1987-11-28 2015-03-25 Rheinmetall W & M Gmbh Warhead
US7493861B1 (en) * 1989-07-24 2009-02-24 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Tandem shaped charge warhead having a confined forward charge and a light-weight blast shield
US5078069A (en) * 1990-03-27 1992-01-07 Hughes Aircraft Company Warhead
US5166469A (en) * 1990-03-29 1992-11-24 Giat Industries Delay fuse for sequentially detonating shaped charges
US5180882A (en) * 1990-04-27 1993-01-19 Thomson-Brandt Armements System of firing control with programmable delays for projectile having at least one warhead
US6910421B1 (en) * 1992-12-08 2005-06-28 Bae Systems Plc General purpose bombs
GB2384291B (en) * 1992-12-08 2004-05-05 Royal Ordnance Plc Improvements in or relating to general purpose bomb
GB2384291A (en) * 1992-12-08 2003-07-23 Royal Ordnance Plc General purpose bomb
US6877562B2 (en) 2001-02-06 2005-04-12 Qinetiq Limited Oil well perforator
US20040060734A1 (en) * 2001-02-06 2004-04-01 Brian Bourne Oil well perforator
US20040211335A1 (en) * 2001-06-12 2004-10-28 Jyrki Helander Ammunition device with two active charges
US7699005B2 (en) * 2001-06-12 2010-04-20 Saab Ab Ammunition device with two active charges
US6959893B1 (en) * 2003-04-01 2005-11-01 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Light fighter lethality seeker projectile
US20050114954A1 (en) * 2005-01-31 2005-05-26 Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. Hybrid maize 32R38
US20060266247A1 (en) * 2005-05-27 2006-11-30 Gilliam Jason C Multi-purpose single initiated tandem warhead
US7363862B2 (en) 2005-05-27 2008-04-29 United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Multi-purpose single initiated tandem warhead
US20080141891A1 (en) * 2006-03-09 2008-06-19 Saab Ab Method for reducing the amount of ammunition types to be used and an ammunition device
US7987789B2 (en) * 2006-03-09 2011-08-02 Saab Ab Method for reducing the amount of ammunition types to be used and an ammunition device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0221218B1 (fr) 1989-06-28
EP0221218A1 (fr) 1987-05-13

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